Collapsible box



N. A. GIBBONS.`

CULLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLlcMloN HLED JULY 11,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July' u, 1922.

NATHAN ALLEN GIBBONS, OF MARTINS FERRY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 WHITAKER- GLESSNER COMIPANY, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

Application led July 11, 1921.

T0 alli/)710m- 'it may concern Ee it `known that lf, NATHAN ALLEN .GIB- BoNs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Martins Ferry, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boxes, of which the tollowing is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to collapsible boxes, and more` particularly to a box of the type commonly used byfretail grocers in the delivery of goods.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a convenient form of collapsible box or crate for the use of grocers and others in the delivery of packages and small articles.

A further object is to provide a box of the character mentioned which is composed almost wholly of sheet metal, which is extremely simple in construction, which is readily collapsible into a-lat form in which it occupies a minimum of space, and which possesses a marked degree of durability in that it is capable of withstanding more than ordinarily rough usage.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan View of the inven tion;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 2, Fig. l;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line -4t,ll`ig.1;l I

Figure 5 is a lateraledge view of the invention in its collapsed form; and- Figure 6 is a partial horizontal section o line 6-6, Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings, l indicates each of two opposite heavy-wire frames of substantially rectangular Jform. Mounted upon the opposite sidel members la of the opposite frames are the opposite ends of two parallel side walls or panels 2 formed of sheet metal, said panels being disposed outward of said frames and'having their ends coiled inward, as shown at 3, into embracing relation tosaid frame members la.

The upper horizontal member lb of each wire trame has its opposite end portions bent outward, as is best shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, so that said member lies slightly out- Specifcation of Letters Patent.

Patented July lill, 1922.

serial nu. 483,777.

ward of the vertical plane of the side mem bers la, and mounted upon said horizontal member is the upper end of a sheet-metal end panel 4, said panel being disposed inward of said frame and having its said end coiled out-ward into embracing relation to said member. The lower end and lateral edges of said end panel 4 are coiled outward about the horizontal and lateral members, respectively, of a U-shaped wire v5 which serves to reinforce said panel. Said end panels have a height materially greater than that of the side panels 2 and, consequently, extend a substantial distance below the lower edges of said side panels for forming Jfeet upon which the box may rest, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The lower horizontal member l@ of each wire frame also has its opposite ends bent outward, as is best shown in Fig. (i, so that it occupies a position outward with respect to the vertical plane of the side members la, thus permitting the adjacent end panel 4 to occupy a position in which its lower end is disposed between the beads 3 of the side panels 2 in abutting relation to said horizontal member lc so that it is braced by the latter against outward movement. To prevent inward swinging movement of the panel 4, a short narrow tongue 6 is struck up from the metal of said panel at an intermediate point in the lower portion ot' the latter and is bent outward and coiled into embracing relation to an inwardly-offset intermediate portion ld of the frame member 1.

Said end panels may have hand holes, as T, provided therein adjacent to their upper ends Jfor facilitating handling of the box. In forming said hand holes, tongues of suit able dimensions are struck up from the metal ot the panel and are bent outward, upward and inward to form a roll-like handle 8.

A flat sheet-metal bottom 9 has one of its lateral edges mounted upon a horizontal hinge wire l() which is carried by one oit the side panels 2 slightly above an inturned reinforcing roll 2a formed at the lower edge of the latter. Said wire l0 is of less length than the panel 2 and is attached to the latter by directing its opposite ends outward through the panel and then turning said ends back into overlying relation to the outer surface of the panel, as shown at 10, Said bottom 9 has said wire l0 received by an embracing coil 9a formed on the edge opposite ends of said bottom. In the open form of the box, the roll or bead 9b rests in overlying seated relation to the roll or bead 2? ofthe panel 2 which is located opposite the hinge. In seated position, the bottom closely engages the last-mentioned side panel and the opposite end panels l and constitutes means whereby the walls of the box are effectually braced, rendering said box perfectly rigid.

lVhen the box is to be collapsed, the bottom9 is lirstforced upward, turning on the hinge wire l0, until it lies closely against the side panel 2 by which -said wire is carried, as shownv indotted lines in Fig. 4f., whereupon the side walls yor panels 2 may be relatively moved or shifted either to the right-or left, with-their coiled ends 3 rotating on the members l of the wire yframes l, until the flatly collapsed form" shown in Fig. 5vis assumed by the parts. Practically considered,.t`he act either of collapsing vor of setting up the boxinvolves the work of but an instant. f

It willbe particularly noted that the side members lL of the wire frames stand vertically; that the upper and lower horizontal members lb and-lC of said frame are in the same vertical planes, and that, consequently, the end panelsll,` located inward 4of lthe inwardly offset portions ld of said members 10p-are held disposed in inwardly inclined positions, vas is best shown in Figf. This is an important feature of the present invention in 'that it provides forthe mounting-of the boxes in superposed, or stacked, relation with the projecting lower ends, or feet, of the end `panelsreceived within the tops of underlying boxes and with the lower frame members lc seated directly over the upper frame members' 1b of such underlying boxes.

-Vhat is claimed is i l. A collapsible sheet-metal box comprising, wire frames of substantially rectangular form, side panels having their ends attached to the side members of' said frames, eud panels depending-from the upper horizontal members of said frames and havingtheir lower ends extending below the lower nicm- .fbei's of said frames to form feet, a bottom having liinge-lileconnection with t-lie lower portion. of one of said side panels,fand means formed on the opposite, side panel :for supporting the free lateraledges of said bottom.

2. A collapsible sheet-metal box comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular form, the'. upper horizontal member ofeach frame being disposed outward with respect to the vertical plane in which said side members thereof are located, `side panels having their ends attached tdsaid vertical side members, end panelsdepending from said horizontal members and having their lower endsextending below the lower members of said frames to form feet, said' end panels being disposed inward of and attached to saidlower members, and a. bottom hinged to one of the side' panels and foldable inward from seated parallel relation to the latter to a position at 4right angles thereto, and vice versa. i Y

3; A 'collapsible sheet-metal box comprising'wire frames of substantially rectangular formgthe vupper horizontal member of cach frame being disposed outward with respect tothe vertical plane in which the side members thereof are located, side panels having their ends attached to said side members, end panels dependingfrom said horizontal members and having their lower ends extending below thelowermembers of said frames to form feet, said end panels being disposed inward of and attached to said lower inembers, a bottom having hinge-like connection with'the-lower portion-'of one of said side panels and foldable inward from seated parallel relation to the lattei'to extended horizontal position, and vice versa, and bottom supporting in'eanspiovided on the opposite side pane. I' w y f' l. collapsible sheet-metal box comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular foimgthe upper horizontal member of each frame-being disposed: outward'with respect tothe vartical plane in' which vthe side members thereof vare located, side panels having their ends attached to said .side inem- -bers,'said panels having inwardly extending reinforcing means provided at their lower edges, endfpanels attached to ysaid horizontal members and having their lower ends extending b'elow-the levelof vthe lowermembers of said. frametoform feet, said? end panels being inwardly inclined and disposed inward of and attached zto'said lower niembers, and a bottom panel lhaving hinge-like connect-ion at one lateral edge with onel of said side panels and being foldable to and from "seated .parallel relation to the latter, said bottoni panel when in extended position resting upon the reinforcing means of the opposite side panel. f

5. A collapsible sheet-inetalbox comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular form, the-.upper and lower horizontal members ofv said frames-.being disposed routward with 'respect to -the `vertical =plane in which said-side fmembersfare located, side panels having their ends:attached to said vside members, saidpanels-hai'iing inturned rolls or beads formed at their lower edges, end panels attached Vto-.said upperhorizontal members and having their lower ends extending below the level of the lower horizontal members of said frame, said end panels being disposed inward of and attached to said lower members and being inwardly inclined, and a bottom panel having hingelilie connection with one of said side panels above the roll or bead of the latter and being foldable to and from seated parallel relation to the latter, said bottom panel when in extended position being seated upon and supportedv by the roll or bead of the opposite side panel.

6. A collapsible sheet-metal box comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular form, the upper and lower horizontal memof each frame being disposed outward of the plane in which the side members thereof are locatedy side panels having their end attached to and adapted for rotary movement on said side members, end panels attached to the horizontal members of said frames and disposed inward with respect to the latterl` the lower ends of said end panels extendingY to a level below that of the lower frame member to form feet, and a bottom panel having hinge-like connection with one of said side panels and foldable to and from seated parallel relation to the latter, and means carried by the opposite side panel for supporting the free lateral edge of said bottom panel when the latter occupies horizontal position.

7. A collapsible sheet-metal box comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular form, the upper and lower horizontal members of each frame being disposed outward of the vertical plane in which the side members thereof are located, side panels having their ends attached to and adapted for rotary movement on said side members end panels suspended from the upper horizontal members of said frames and having their lower ends extending below the level of the lower members of said frames, said end panels being inclined and disposed inward of said lower members. tongues struck up from said end panels and coiled into embracing relation to portions of said lower members, and a bottom having hinge-like connection with one of said side panels and adapted for folding` movement to and from horizontal operative position.

8. A collapsible sheet-metal box comprising wire frames of substantially rectangular form, the upper and lower horizontal menibers of each frame being disposed outwarffl of the vertical plane of said side members and in a common vertical plane, side panels having their ends attached to said side members, end panels suspended from the upper horizontal members of said frames and having their lower ends extending below the level of the lower members of said frames, said end panels inclined downwardly and inwardly and disposed inwardly of said lower lmembers7 means attaching said panels to said lower members. and a bottom having hinge-like connection with one of said side panels and adapted for folding movement to and from horizontal operative position.

ln testimony whereof`r l aiiix my signature. in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHAN ALLEN GIBBONS.

Witnesses G. O. SMITH, H. E. DUNLAP. 

